INTERACTIONS WITHIN ECOSYSTEMS

Individuals, Populations, and Communities

Were the mosquitoes bad this summer? Your answer is not just a comment but

an observation. Think again about the mosquitoes and

ask yourself why? What factors may affect the mosquito

population?

The Living Things

Living things such as:

are called the biotic parts of the environment.

The Non-Living Things

The non-living things such as:

are called the abiotic parts of the environment.

Careers

An ecologist is a scientist who studies the biotic parts in an environment and their interactions with the abiotic parts.

Organisms

What is an organism? An individual is one organism.

A group of individuals of the same species, living together in one place at one time, is called a biological population.

A species is a group of organisms who can successfully reproduce themselves.

A biological community is made up of all the populations that live in one area.

The place where each species lives is called its habitat.

Think

Look out the window. What do you see? What types of questions may come up

when looking at our local habitat? Think about habitats and biological

communities. What biotic and abiotic parts in the

habitat that you thought of?

How do we “fit” in?

Organisms are usually very well suited to live in a particular environment.

This good “fit” between the characteristics of the organism and the characteristics of the environment is the result of adaptation.

Adaptation

An adaptation is an inherited characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

What are some organisms that have adapted to their environment?

Class Work

Read pages 6-10 in your text book, answer questions #3 and 4 on page 10.

Ecosystems

Ecosystems Video

Ecosystems

An Ecosystem is the interactions between abiotic features of an area and the biotic community that live in the area.

Ecosystems have a clearly defined physical or environmental boundary. An edge of a ploughed field or a riverbank are examples of these physical boundaries while changes in altitude on a mountain side is an environmental boundary.

Environmental Boundary

Physical Boundary

Consider Figure 1.4 in your text book. List the biotic features as well as the abiotic features. Also, what environmental and physical boundaries can you spot?

Use page 12 in your text to expand your notes on the abiotic – biotic interactions in an ecosystem.

Complete questions 1 and 4 found on page 14.

Building a Terrarium

Climates and Biomes

When people think about the Canadian climate they often think about cold weather and snowy conditions. But is this true? What is the weather like in the middle of July?

When we think about our climate as being cold and snowy we also have to remember that we do experience warm weather too.

Weather refers to local conditions that can change from day to day or even hour to hour.

New Brunswick weather

Climate refers to the average weather pattern of a region. The climate in Baffin Island is much different then the climate in southern Ontario.

New Brunswick Climate

The Earth can be divided into many different regions based on climate. What regions can you think of?

Climates that are similar receive around the same amount of precipitation and often have comparable types of soil. This encourages plant life that are compatible or similar.

A biome is a large area with characteristic climate, soil, plants, and animals.

Each type of biome can be found all over different parts of the world.

Biomes are the fifth level of biological organization:

Level 1 – individual Level 2 – population Level 3 – community Level 4 – ecosystem Level 5 - biome

Types of Biomes

The Earth can be divided into 6 major types of Biomes:

1. Tundra2. Boreal Forest3. Temperate Forest4. Tropical Rain Forest5. Grasslands6. Desert Ice is not considered a biome.

Research each type of biome using your text or other resource and make notes about each type. You should be able to write a paragraph about each. Include plant life, animals, climate and locations.

Use section 1.4 of your text to describe how Canada’s semi-desert area works.

Complete questions 1, 2, 3 and 5 on page 26.

Research Project

In groups of 3-4, research one type of biome and create a bristol board presentation that describes the biome’s plant and animal life. Be sure to include places on the planet where you can find an example of your biome. You will be marked on neatness, effort, content, accuracy of information and overall presentation. You will also mark your teammates and yourself.

The Biosphere

All of the places on Earth where life can exist and interact with the physical environment, taken together, form the Biosphere.

The Biosphere is made up of three parts:1. Hydrosphere - the water2. Lithosphere – the solid material,

including the soil.3. Atmosphere – the air that surrounds the

water and terrain.

The Biosphere is a giant ecosystem in which all things are connected in some way. The air we breath is the same air that mountain gorilla’s breath in the Congo. The water we drink, in some way, is the same water that dinosaurs bathed in.

The air and water here on Earth is being constantly being renewed but this process is often influenced by pollution and the affects of global warming.

Chapter 1 Review

Pg 34 – 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16